Grab Beauty When You Can

         Amy at The Poem Farm hosts us today, this first Poetry Friday of Autumn, the final Poetry Friday of September.  Thank you Amy for your constant poetry inspiration!  
         When Autumn arrives, I look for perfectly colored leaves and display them on a certain table in my house.  I love many kinds, revel in the golden aspen display we have in Colorado, but nothing takes the place of those vivid, crimson maple trees, of which we have few. They do not like our climate very much, and need TLC in order to grow.  If someone has nurtured a maple's growth, it becomes a destination.  We can say things like, have you seen that tree over on 28th Avenue?  And if so, the other will exclaim, Yes, I have, think it's better this year than last!  

A Poem, A Photo, A List - My Life

             Visit Stacey for the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers.  

Tweet at SLICE2013! 

My slice of life is contemplative today, a poem, a photo, a list – my life!

Roads Go Ever On  – J.R.R. Tolkien

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

                           the rest is here!

Looking back:

     Grateful for so much good that happened in these past weeks, the family, friends, medical help that gave me gifts of love, hugs and expert advice. 

      And I am grateful for my colleagues at this beginning of the school year who have been patient with my meanderings in and out of work.  It was such a relief not having to worry about work.

Monday Reading - Less But More

 Monday Reading  

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Jen at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  And shared with Ricki and Kellee at UNLEASHING READERS.   

         And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews. 

 Tweet! at #IMWAYR

       It was a busy week; I just finished one book.  I’m still reading Kate Messner’s Wake Up Missing, which is getting better and better.  I’m almost finished with Hatchet, re-reading again with a young book group.  Both writers are good, just need more time.  I have been accepted as a Round Two poetry judge for the Cybils awards, so have found a few recent poetry books at my library to begin reading some of the recent ones. Exciting stuff!  If you have a favorite from this year please let me know!

One lovely picture book I found in my school library:

Poetry Friday - Celebrating a new role!

           Poetry Friday is hosted this week by wonderful Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference, who finds most interesting things to share in every single post.  Thanks, Tabatha!

       I'm very excited to return to the Round Two Judging of this year's Cybil awards for poetry.  I'm researching books that have been published this year, and already have checked out a few from the library.  Below, see those I'm working alongside.  It will be a pleasure!

       I will not have time to read today, but certainly wanted to share my excitement about this honor of being chosen.  Some of you might have seen already all the different panels of judges, many of whose blogs we read and enjoy.  If not, the link to the Cybils blog is here!  It's also a great place to find extraordinary titles if you look at the list of previous winners in ALL the categories.  It's a terrific time to be a blogger and/or a writer.

I'm Speaking Up Like Someone Told Me

             Visit the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers.  Tweet at SLICE2013! 

Carrie Gelson, one of my favorite ‘go to’ people for book ideas on her blog There’s A Book for That just wrote a post celebrating 20 years of teaching by sharing 20 things she’s learned throughout those years.  I loved reading each one, and two would be placed at the top of my list, but this one, number 19, connected to my whole being: Be a storyteller. Our classrooms are a window into how we as a society look after our children. Speak up. 

            When I read Carrie’s words, I knew what I would write today.  I’ve thought about this all day, and wonder if it’s a way to bring educators together in a common goal of kindness, and of course we must include the children.  Part of the definition of society in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary is an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession or an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another.  Above all we must have a common belief to be kind to one another.  I am speaking up!